Housing Specialist

Our Mission: Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) provides high quality, stable and sustainable housing, and supportive services to people in need. It does this in ways that help them prosper and help our communities become safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive, and just.

Our Values: We value the diversity of our staff. It makes us stronger and more effective. Service, Integrity, Stewardship, Communication, Collegial Support and Respect, Excellence and Leadership are all values of THA.

Why come work for us? At THA, you’ll not only grow as an individual but have an opportunity to serve those in the community that have the least. You’ll team up with engaging professionals who will allow you to develop and learn. One of our employees said, “THA is an organization that has intelligent and driven individuals, with an emphasis on teamwork and trust. We enjoy working together.” THA offers an atmosphere that is energetic, practical, down-to-earth, and fun.

We’re committed to pay equity and provide competitive wages, along with excellent healthcare benefits, paid time off, participation in WA State retirement plans, and a growing variety of health and wellness benefits.

The Housing Specialist supports Tacoma Housing Authority’s strategic and operational objectives by efficiently performing a range of functions to ensure that THA’s housing programs run effectively. The Housing Specialist ensures that housing programs are efficient and comply with applicable rules and regulations. The Housing Specialist manages the THA clients and landlord partners relationship and makes sure that they receive high quality service.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

SUPPORT THE FEDERAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMS POSITIONS

• Coordinate with other departments to incorporate updated Public Indian Housing (PIH) notices, changes to CFR, and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a highly proficient knowledge of detailed federal leased housing regulations.
• Prepare and monitor reports, including monthly Board reports.
• Maintain positive and constructive external relations with community and real estate organizations, property owners, and prospective sources of eligible residents and rental information.
• Work closely with Client Support and Empowerment (CSE) staff to engage and assist families at risk for eviction or termination.
• Communicate and coordinate available services.
• Provide general information to interested parties regarding subsidized housing programs.
• Determine resident eligibility, calculate rent and initiate leasing or voucher process.
• Re-verify and ensure complete and accurate information of annual income, family composition, allowable deductions, and allowances.
• Perform background checks with police, courts, and credit references regarding entire family.
• Determine continued income eligibility and preference status.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

• Work on a team with a shared caseload; coordinate with team members on tasks as assigned.
• Determine eligibility, prepare contracts, and accept property owners and their properties into leased housing programs.
• Process all reports and correspondence associated with leasing, recertification, and portability processes.
• Compute property owner payments for programs.
• Complete and maintain waiting lists, issue vouchers, and withdrawals.
• Perform interim and annual re-certifications of all leased housing residents.
• Mediate issues between property owners, residents, and the agency’s leased housing programs.
• Investigate and develop documentation in conjunction with policies and procedures.
• Maintain resident selection function for timely operation of vacancy status.
• Respond to complaints, schedule appointments, and provide general information relative to leasing function.
• Complete rental, utility and marketing surveys as required.
• Compute repayment agreement amounts.

LEASING OFFICE

• Schedule, notify, and conduct applicant interviews.
• Approve or deny applicants for housing assistance based on federal regulations and Authority policies. Prepare, distribute, and file notification of eligibility/ineligibility. Document and track all denials.
• Prepare, update, assemble, distribute applications, input into computer and track.
• Notify preliminarily approved applicants on the waiting list when vacancies occur.
• Maintain and update THA’s affordable housing wait list.
• Conduct briefing for new residents upon initial occupancy.
• Monitor and coordinate transfers for over and under housed residents, ADA/reasonable accommodations, and other transfers.

DIVERSITY

THA’s staff, its clients, and the staff of community partners are diverse in many ways, including diversity by race, national origin, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, and disability. THA is committed to cultivating a culture of belonging. We value diverse life experiences and heritage to ensure that all voices are heard. We strive to respect and protect the dignity of all employees and members of our community. All THA employees must engage diverse people in constructive and effective ways as a supervisor, colleague, business partner, and/or service provider.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Two or more years related work experience preferably in social services delivery with families or elderly and disabled persons.
• Fair housing and reasonable accommodation experience.
• Experience or knowledge of housing choice vouchers or HUD programs and low-income housing; experience interpreting federal rules and regulations.
• Housing authority or tax credit housing experience preferred.
• Experience working with Yardi preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to use critical thinking to solve problems collaboratively with a high attention to detail.
• High level ability to plan projects effectively, manage their timely implementation and effectively use the agency’s management tools.
• Have a high regard and ability to meet schedules and timelines, demonstrate excellent ability to work independently with little direction.
• Ability to engage a wide variety of people with a high level of professionalism, courtesy, and good humor, including culturally, socially, and economically diverse populations, seniors, persons with disabilities, contractors, and professional colleagues.
• Highly proficient in related software and technology, including Microsoft Office programs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

THA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.

We provide reasonable accommodation to all applicants and employees that can perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. If you require reasonable accommodation, please direct your inquiry to the Human Resources Department at (253) 448-2704 for assistance. We ask for at least 24 hours advance notice when possible.